Animal barrier and method

Abstract

An animal barrier generally comprises a substantially open, substantially rigid grid, such as of wire, and a plurality of spikes of various lengths, heights and angles connected to the grid and projecting upward therefrom. In a preferred embodiment, the grid has a slit from its periphery inward for placing the grid around said stem of a plant, long spikes are at substantially right angles to the grid and slanted spikes are between 45° and 80° to the grid. The method of making an animal barrier from a grid of transverse and longitudinal wires joined at their intersections comprises the steps of severing a traverse wire adjacent each side of a first intersection, severing the longitudinal wire that is at the first intersection between the first intersection and an adjacent intersection in a first direction, bending the severed traverse wires upward from their adjacent intersections, and bending the severed longitudinal wire upward from the intersection adjacent the first intersection in a second direction opposite the first direction.

I claim: 
     
       1. In combination: a planter;   soil in said planter; said soil having a periphery;   a plant growing in said soil and having a stem projecting upward from said soil; said plant being disposed away from said periphery of said soil;   an animal barrier comprising:   a substantially open, substantially rigid grid covering said soil; said grid having a periphery; said grid having a slit from said periphery of said grid inward for placing said grid around said stem of said plant; and   a plurality of spikes connected to said grid and projecting upward therefrom; each spike having:   a bottom end connected to said grid;   a longitudinal portion extending upward from said bottom end; and   a free end supported above said grid by said longitudinal portion; a plurality of said spikes being long spikes having longer longitudinal portions than a plurality of said spikes being short spikes; a plurality of said spikes being slanted spikes having angled longitudinal sections; and a plurality of said spikes being high spikes having a higher free end than a plurality of said spikes being short spikes.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said long spikes are at substantially right angles to said grid.   
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said slanted spikes are between 45° and 80° to said grid. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said long spikes are at substantially right angles to said grid; and   said slanted spikes are between 45° and 80° to said grid.